Intense.
Multiple New Jersey Devils players used that word to describe the fans and atmosphere at Lenovo Center for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Over his tenure with the Hurricanes, current Devils defenseman Brett Pesce saw Lenovo Center evolve into one of the toughest buildings in the NHL.
"My first few years, we didn't make the playoffs and weren't very good," Pesce explained. "Then we made the playoffs, and everyone started coming around again. Obviously, they have been good since. I feel like they are growing fans by the day down there. It has become a big part of the community, and people love it."
According to the 30-year-old, his former team feeds off the fans, and those filling the 18,000-plus seats give the Hurricanes an advantage over their opposition.
Pesce's Devils teammate, Paul Cotter, is no stranger to playing in a tough building, having begun his career with the Vegas Golden Knights. He agrees that the fans make a building intimidating for a road team to play in.
"The fans need to be passionate, but they also need to have the team's back," he said. "You have to feel like you are taking on a city instead of a team."
With the Devils down in the series 0-2, one of the most critical components of Game 3 at Prudential Center will be you.
Yes, you. The reader who spends their hard-earned money on tickets, pays $35.00 to park and walks into Prudential Center wearing your lucky Jack Hughes or newly purchased Jacob Markstrom jersey.
Ahead of Game 3, The Hockey News asked Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe how important the home crowd will be on Friday night.
"It is vital," he said. "Carolina, for a reason, is one of the top home teams in the NHL and has been for a number of years. New Jersey, I have heard nothing but great things about the playoff environment that is created here. We are at a spot as a team where we need a boost."
"We need energy," Keefe continued. "There have been so many games at home where we have played at our best, and the fans were pushing the group and responding to the group. We have to give them a reason to push us and all of that, but we are looking forward to being on home ice and all the things that could come with that."
It has been 717 days since Devils fans witnessed playoff hockey at Prudential Center. As Keefe acknowledged, they are hungry for playoff action.
Soon they will experience it.
The Devils will kick Friday night off by hosting Fan Fest at Championship Plaza at 5:00 p.m., which will include the following activations: “NJ’s Ride,” a mobile esports fan experience; Devils Experience Mobile Tour; ESPN BET activation with raffles and giveaways; BMW iX car activation with giveaways; and music from DJ Cole Pardi and local band, Royals.
By the time the players take the ice, Devils captain Nico Hischier has one request.
"I hope that they show up and they are going to be loud," Hischier said with a smile on Thursday afternoon.
"We need them, for sure," he continued. "It was pretty loud in Raleigh, and we need that on our side (now)."
Like the Hurricanes, Hischier explained he and his teammates will feed off the energy of the crowd.
"As a player, you soak that energy up," he explained. "It gives you that extra edge that you maybe miss in a road game. That energy from the home crowd gives you a boost."
Keefe and Hischier hope fans bring the intensity when the puck drops between the Devils and Hurricanes at 8:00 p.m. ET (MSGSN, TBS, Max, SN360, TVAS2).
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